Photographic-developing apparatus and method



5 sheets-sheet l WSW mum;

` G. M. DYE

Filed Sept.

Apr. 1o, 1923.

PHOTOGRAPHIC DEVELOPING APPARATUS AND METHOD w S8@ @5&9 E

l Apr. 10, 1923.

G.. M. DYE

PHOTOGRAPHIC DEVELOPING APPARATUS AD METHOD *T5 sheets-sheet 2 F led Sept. 15, 1919 To vo Apr. 1o, 1923.

G. M. DYE

PHOTOGRAPHIC DEVELOPING APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed se'pt.

l5, 191.9 3 sheets-sheet E mentor 6./7 Eye B5 bis Attorneys Patented Apr. 10, 192 3'.

PATENT OFFICE.

GLEN M. DYE-.or MINNaPoLrs, MINNESOTA.

PHOTOGRAPHIC-DEVELOPING APPARATUS AND METH'IOD.

Application 'tiled September 13, 1919. Serial No. 323,593.

n To all whom it may concern.'

ne a known that I, GLEN M. DYE, a ein! zen of the UnitedA States, residingat Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements "in Photographic-Developing Apparatus and Methods; and I do @hereby declare the following to b'e a full,

clear, and exact description ofthe invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to makea-nd use the Y Same.

My invention has for its object to'provide a method and apparatus for automatically' performing all of the operations required for the complete development of vphotographic films and prints; and to such ends, generallyy stated, the invention consists of the novel method and the devicesV and combinations of devices hereinafter described and definedin the claims. v y

As vis well known, the complete development of photographic films and prints involves several treatments or operations specifically designated asy developing, rinsing, fixing, washing and drying. In carrying out these operations, the films 'and prints have usually been transferred by hand froln theone place to the otherwhere the several operations are performel, but in accordance with my invention, these operations kare all automatically carried out by an apparatus involving a traveling .carrier for the films or prints. In connection with" the carrier, there are what may be designated as loading, developing, rinsing, fixing,"washing and drying zones through which the carrier passes the films or prints in a regular order of succession. In the developing zone there is means for producing a continuous spray of the developing liquid on the films conveyed by the carrier; in the rinsing zone of water on said films or prints. In the prefel-red arrangement of tne apparatus, there is means for producing a blast of warm dry air on the films or prints to dry the same.

The loading, developing. rinsing. and fixing vwasher is provided. -The Aapparatus,illustrated in Figs. 1 to that the films or prints will not be exposed to actini'c'light rays. The invention, however, involves various other highly important features, aswill be hereinafter disclosed and claimed. For convenience of expression in the following description and in the claims, the film or photographic print will be referred to as film, but it will be understood that this term is intended to cover any one of the said articles, or any other sheet or 'plate coatedy with the sensitized emulsion.

The improved apparatus is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the several-views. Referring to the drawings Fig. 1 is a view in horizontal section illustrating the photo-developing apparatus, some parts being in diagram;. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the apparatus `shown in Fig. 1, the floor on which it is being removed;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged horizontal section taken approximately on the lines 3 3 of Figs. 2 and 5, some parts that are above said line being shown in full and by dotted lines and some parts being broken away;

Fig. 4 is a similar view to Fig. 3, but illustrating different positions of the parts;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken approximately on the. lines `55 of Figs. 1 and 3;

Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical section taken approximately on the line 6--6 of Fig. 2;

F ig. l is a fragmentary perspective showing a portion of the film carrier and intermediatelyassociated parts; u

Fig. 8 is an enlarged horizontal section taken approximately -on the line 8-8 of Fig. 2;

' Fig. 9 isa side elevation ofthe mechanism Ashown in Fig. 8, some parts being removed; there is means for producing a spray of i -water on the developed films to Wash y'the surplus developing materialtherefrom; in

illustrating a modified mechanism; and

Fig. 11 is a horizontal section illustrating a modified arrangement in which a pre- 9, inclusive, will first be described. The mechanism of my improved apparatus is ar ranged partly within and partly outside of a dark room, and usually the light anddark rooms will be separated by a wall or partition 13 extended from a floor 14. The film zones will preferably be in the dark room socarrier which is preferably in the form of llO an endless sprocket chain or link belt, is

- arranged to travel' in a`horizontal plane .through and along the opposite sides of the partition -13 and, as shown, the sprocket chain 15 which affords. said carrier, is arrangd to travel over sprocket'wheels 16 and 17 t at are located in film passage-wayslS Y and 19,l respectivel 'formed' 1n nthe said j sprocket 16 partition and exten ed down quite Yclose to the Hoor or far enough'to perm-itt'he film to pass therethroug said sprocket chain or carrier. belt.

8), are journaled to suitable lbearings on the partition 13, and f the shaft of the is shown 4 as provided with a worm gear 20. Worm'gear 2O mesheswith a. worm 21 on a shaft 22 journaled in suitable bearings 23 fixed to the partition 13.`

At its extended end, shaft 22` has a face frictiony wheel 24 with' which co-operates a peripheral friction wheel 25 that lis carried I A by, butslidable on asmall counter shaft 26,

- `wheel 25 is ada ted to be adjustedradially journaled in suitable bearings on a supportsA ing bracket 27 lsecured to partition 13 see particularly Figs. 2, V8 and 9).. Friction of friction whee and thereby set for the transmission of different speedsfby an ad' justing -lever A28 pivoted to bracket 27 At its outer end, shaft 26` has a sheave 29. A belt 30 runs over sheave 29 and over a sheave 31 on the arma-ture shaft-of `a small electric motor 32 shown as Supported on the bracket 27 By the means justabove described, .the link belt 15 is adapted to be continuously f l driven at any desired speed from motor 32.

In the drawings; the films in the form of.

l film strips y areI arranged to be spaced apart spring clips 37, or thelike.

and carried by the carrier belt 15,and. the

said belt is provided with means for 'detach-v ably holdin the same, and preferably` also, for detacha lyl holding order vnumber tabs y1. This means, as shown, comprises upright metal arms 33 secured to certain of the links of said belt and provided at their lower ends with Vfiat plate-like heads 34 equipped with spring clamps 35 for directly gripping the upper edges ofthe films. At

theirupper ends. said arms 33 are shown as rovided with 'flat plates 36 to which, the or er tabs y1 maybe detachably secured by To support the carrier belt' Y between sprockets, the arms 33 are shown as provided with forwardly and rearwardly pro- 'jecting rider pins 38 that are arranged to travel over laterally spaced arallel horizontally extended rails 39.` gaid rails 39 arelocated in pairs on opposite sides of the wall 13 and, as shown, are rigidly secured to the prongs of inverted U-shape'd hanger brackets 40, which, in turn, are rigidly secured to the said wall 13 (see particularly Figs. 5 and 6). These rails receive the rider h when suspended from Saidy sprockets 16 and 17 (see particularly ,Fig.j-

pins 38 as they pass vfrom the one sprocket and guidethe same to ythe other sprocket, andthis, as already indicated, takes place on both sides of the wall v13.

rIfhe Vi'lm and the lorder number tabs will be applied to the carrier on lthat portion of the chain that is movin through the loading zone marked A on iig. 1. 'From 'loading zone A, the films will be carried through developing zone B, thence, through rinsing zone- C, thence, through KAVxing `zone D, and thence .through washing zone From washingzone E, Fig. 1, the films will l be carriedv through the rear opening of the v wall 13,` thence through drying zone 'F 'and thence through .unloading lzone G, Yfrom which latter, the fully developedvfilms'will be removed, all aswillhereinafter .more fully appear. 'The carrier, lin passing .fromunloading` zone to loading zone A ,moves 'throu' h 'a housing 41 which is ofsuch construction as to exclude light from the dark room side ofthe wall. In developing zone B, 'at the lower portion thereof, ythere is a 'large catch pan or open top .tank 42 that contains the developing liquid.- The bottom of this tank `is connected by areturn lpipe 43 to a pump 44 which has a ldischarge pipe 45 that extends upward in the said developing zone B and 'is vprovided with arv plurality of 'vertically spacedlaterally extended sp-ray Vpipes 46. These spray Ipipe's 46 are perforated'onv one side (see particularly Fig; 6) so that lthey are adapted to pro3ect vintersecting sprays `over the entire surfaces of all of 4the films thatare within said developing zone. Upright pipe 45 has a laterally offset vertical branchxpipe ,47

that is, lo'cated approximately at the placev wherethe films pass from the loading :zone A into the developing zone B. Thisbranch `pipe 47 is providedwithv vertically spaced enter the developing zone, and will beprotected from the initial spray of developing liquid until they have'jreached'v a `position where, by a sudden dash, the initial spray may be thrown over the entire surface thereof.l This device, as shown, comprises a shield 48 which is pivoted 'on pipe 47 and at its upper edge is provided with an extended arm 49. A hood llfixed on and inrespect to pipe 47` encloses said pipe and shields and prevents. outward splashing of the -developing liquid. At its -lower extremity. this hood 50 has a depending fiange icc suring instantaneous 3. When the shiel belt. This water pipe 51 that directs the liquid dashed against the same, into the open tank 42 (see particularl Fig. 5). A curtain' 52 located in t e developing zone B and hung atits upper edge from bracket 40 and other suitable supports, stops that part of the spray that -is not stopped by the films'and directs the same back into the tank 42.

A coiled s ring 53 shown as attached to arm 49 and ood 50 tends to hold the movable shield 48l into the lposition shown in Fig. 4. The free end of arm 49, however, projects per portions of the lm metal arms 33, so

that it will be immediately engaged thereby.

When the arm 49 is engaged by onel of the arms 33, it will be moved approximately to the position shown in Fig.` 3, thereb carrying the shield into osition indicate in Fig.

d is moved from its position shownin Fi 4 toward the position shown in Fig. 3, it will cut off the-sprays pro'ected from the initial spray pipe 47 and wi prevent such sprays from reaching the film. until `the film has totally entered in the developing zone, and thereupon, the arm 49 will be released and spring 53 will quickly throw the same back to the position where it will engage a fixed stop 49a of the hood 50, as shown in Fig. 4, and this will cause the sprays from the said pipe 47 to be simultaneouslythrown over the entire surface of a film, as clearly shown in Fig. 4, thereby incovering of the sensitized. surface or emulsion of the film and even development thereof.

At the lower portion of rinsing zione C is a catch pan 54 which has a discharge pipe 55. For spraying the developed film with clear water in this zone C, there is an upright water supply pipe 56 which has lateral spray pipes 57 perforated so as to project intersecting sprays on the films as theyare carried through the rinsing zone C by the carrier 56 may be connected to any suitable source of water supply, such as a city water main.

Located inthe lower portion of fixing zone D is a large catch pan or'open top tank 58. The bottom of this tank 58 is connected by a pipe 59 toap/ump 6() which has an uprightv discharge pipe 61 provided with vertically spaced laterally projecting spray pipes 62 that are perforated so as to project intersecting sprays on the films as they are carried through the fixing zone by the endless carrier belt. Here it may be stated that the tively.

pumps 44v and 60 are preferably rotary pumps which may be driven by any suitable means. but as shown, are individually driven by small electric motors 44 and 60a. respec- The purpose of the pumps in the constructions described. is to produce a continuous circulation of the developing and fixingk liquids. Where city water service is which in the path of movement of the upused, as in the rinsing and washing zones,

saving of water is not necessary, and hence, circulating pumps are not necessary.

In the lower portion of the washing zone E is a large catch Epan 63 which has a discharge pipe 64. washing zone is a water supply pipe 65 laterally rojecting spray pipes 66 provided with per orations adapted -to throw intersecting sprays of water on the films as they pass from the fixing zone.

In the drawings, the ends of spray pipes 46, 57, 62 and 66 are shown as resting on small brackets 67 secured on vertical supporting posts 68.

As the washed films pass from washing zone E, they are carried through the lopening 19 in wall 13 and through the drying zone F. The drying zone' is within a housing 69 secured to wall 13. This housing is open at its top, but at the bottom is connected by short air tubes 70, to a hot air pipe 71, which, in practice, will be connected to ar suitable source of hotor warm air supply, such as a fan connected, in turn, to a heating chamber.

The operation already generally indicated niaIy be briefly summarized, as follows:

he films y, at their upper ends, are attached to the continuously traveling carrier belt by the clips 35 as they pass through the loading zone A To cause' the film to hand straight down, clip-like weights 72 may be applied to the. lower ends thereof. From loading zone A, the films pass in regular order through the developing zone B where they are first given the initial dash spray from pipe 47, as already described` and from thencefthey pass through the spray of developing liquid discharged thereon from the horizontal spraying pipes 46. The time interval required for the films to pass through the Adeveloping zone will be sufficient to cause the proper development of the negative thereon. From the developing zone, the 'films ass through rinsing zone C, where the siirp us developing liquid is washedtherefrom, and from thence, they pass into and through a fixing zone D where the time interval required for 1the films to pass through the fixing zone D and during which they will be subjected to the continuous spray/of the fixing liquid or hypo. will be sufficient to effect the proper fixing of the negative. From the fixing zone D. films pass through the washing zone where the surplus fixing liquid will be washed from the films. Next. the films pass through the long housing 69 of the drying zone F where they are subject to the currents of warm air so that when the films pass from the drying zone they will he dried and fit for reiiioval as they are carried into the unloading zone G. In this way. all of the operaxtende-d upward in the s a plurality of vertically spaced tions incident to complete development of'l the ordinary sense, or what are usually designated as photographic prints, post cards, or the like, having photo-sensitive faces on Which pictures are printed.

Figs. and 11 illustrate modified arrangements Which. permit the initial dash spray for the films as they enter the developingchamber, to be dispensed with. Fig 10, for example, illustrates means for giving the carrier belt an intermittent movement. so

that the films'will be moved completely within the developing zone by a quick movement. In this arrangement, sprocket Wheel 16, in

i lieu of worm gear 2C, is provided with ratchet wheel 73, and-this ratchet Wheel is Y operated on by a driving dog 74 carried by a lever 75 pivoted on the shaft of said gear 16. Lever 75 is connected by a link 76 to a crank pin carried by a Worm gear 77 that meshes with a power driven Worm 78.

In Fig. 11, the prewashing device, which is located in advance of developing zone comprises a vertical Water supply pipe 79 havingvlaterally projecting perforated spraying pipes 80 that direct the spray of Waterrdirectly onto the films as they pass from the loading zone and before they pass into the developing zone. This preiyashing device Wets the sensitized faces of the films so that the developing liquid sprayed thereon Vin the developing zone will he caused tov completely spread over the sensitized surface thereof, and thus avoid spotting or uneven developing. Of course, the sensitive face of the film must be placed toward the spray. The continuous circulation of the developing and fixing liquid kee s the same well stirred up and active an(V insures maximum acceleration of the developing processes. Moreover, the continuous spray orvshower against the emulsion coated or sensitive faces of the film or print keeps the same clear of-diist and pre vents spotting fro-insuch sources.

The air for drying purposes should not be hot but" quite Warm and dry.

IVhat I claim is:

l. In a photographic developing apparatus. a carriergfor the films arranged to carry the films past developing` and fixing zones.l

.i and spraying means in said developing and xing zones operative to spray the sensitized surfaces of the films, respectively, with the developing and fixing liquids.

2. In a photographic developing apparatus, and endless traveling, film'carrier, developing and fixing zones past which the films are carried by said carrier, catch pans in the lower portions of said developing and fixing zones located beloiv the line of travel of the films, spraying pipes in said developing and fixing zones for delivering sprays of developing and fixing liquid on films as they pass, respectively through said developing and fixing zones, and circulatingfconnections between said-catch pans and the respective spraying pipes for maintaining a circulation of the lrespective liquids therethrough.

3. In a photographic developing apparatus, a carrier for the films arranged to carry the films past developing and fixing zones, spraying means in said developing and fixing zones operative to spray the sensitized surfaces, of the films, respectively, with the developing and fixing liquids, andthe said spraying means in the developingzone comprising an initial spraying device operative intermittently and with a dashing action on the entered films.

4. In a photographic developing apparatus, a carrier for the films arranged to carry the films pa'stpdeveloping and fixing zones, spraying means in said developing and fixing zones operative to yspray the sensitized surfaces of the films, respectively, ivith the-developing and fixing liquids, said spraying means in the developing zone comprising an upright spraying pipe and a carrier actiiated oscillatory shield acting to intermittently throw an initial spray against the entering films with a sudden action.

5. In a photographic developing apparatus, an endless horizontally movable film carrier arranged to carry the films progressively from loading, lpast developing, rinsing, fixing and Washing zones, means in the developing zone for automatically spraying the films with the developing liquid, means in the rinsing zone for spraying the developed films with Water, means in the fixing zone for spraying the rinsed films with a fixing liquid, and means in said washing zone for spraying the fixed films with Water.

6. In a photographic `developing apparatus. an endless horizontally movable film carrier arranged to carry the films progressively from loading, past developing, rinsing, fixing and Washing zones, means in the developing zone for automatically spraying the films with the developing liquid, means in the rinsing zone for spraying the developed films with water. means in the fixing zone for spraying the rinsed films with a fixing liquid, means in said Washing zone for spraying the fixed films ivitli water,

thesaid spraying means in said developing and fixing zones including spray pipes. drip pans, power driven pumps, and liquid circulating connections between the respective pans. pumps and spraying pipes.

7. In a photographlc developing apparatus. the combination with a horizontally movable endless carrying belt and guide wheels therefor, of power driven means for imparting traveling movement to said belt. said carrier belt having a film clamping device and being arranged to carry the films progressively from loading, past developing, rinsing, fixing and washing zones, of spraying devices in said developing, rinsing, fixing and washing zones arranged to spray the films with the proper liquids.

8. In a photographic developing apparatas, the combination with a horizontally movable endless carrying belt and guide wheels therefor, of power drive-n means for imparting traveling movement to said belt, said carrier belt having a film clamping device and being arranged to carry the films progressively from loading, past develop-,0'

ing, rinsing, fixing and washing zones', of spraying devices in said developing, rinsing, fixing and washing zones arra/r'gd to spray the films with the propel' liquids. said carrier belt, on its opposite sides having projecting rider pins, and rails extending between said sprockets and' on which said rider pins are arranged to/slide.

9. In a photographic developing apparatus. the combination with a horizontally movable endless carrying belt and guide wheels therefor, of power driven means for imparting traveling movement to said belt, said carrier belt having a film clamping device and being arranged to carry the films progressively from loading, past developing, rinsing, fixing and washing zones, of spraying devices in said developing, rinsing, fixing and washing zones arranged to spray the films with the proper liquids, thc. said carrier belt having holders for order tabs associated with each film clamp.

10. The lmethod of handling photographic films which consists in suspending the films from a traveling carrier, continuously and uniformly moving said -arrier and films through developing. rinsing. fixing and washing zones, spraying said films with developing. rinsing, fixing. and washing solutions, respectivelv. while moving through said respective zones, and subsequently moving said films through a drying chamber.

11. The method of handling photographic films which consists in connecting the films at one end to a traveling carrier so that the films depend l.vertically from said carrier, moving saidfcarrier and films continuously in one direction and in spraying said films successively with developing and rinsing liquids during their continued movement in onedirection.

12. The process set forth in claim 11, and sprayingr the films with fixing and washing liquids during their continued movement in one-direction.

The process set forth in claim 12, and continuing the movement of the films and carrier through a drying chamber.

14.-. The method of handling a photographic film which consists in suspending the same from one end on a traveling carrier continuously and uniformly moving said carrier and film and spraying the same with a developing liquid.

15. The method of handling a photographic film which consists in suspending the same from one end in a dark room and uniformly advancing the same in one direction and spraying said film with developing liquid.

16. The method of handling photographic films which consists in suspending thesame from one end on a traveling carrier and continuously and uniformly moving said carrier in a horizontal plane through zones in which the film is successively acted upon by developing, rinsing, fixing, washing and drying mediums.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

GLEN M. DYE. 

